Town Council approves rezoning request for Bicycle Apartments

After a lengthy and contentious public hearing, the Chapel Hill Town Council approved Wednesday night a rezoning request and special use permit for a housing development geared toward students.

The Bicycle Apartments, which will be located at 602 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., will be a four- to six-story building with 194 units and 241 parking spaces.

At Wednesday’s meeting, more than 30 residents and council members voiced concerns that the by-design student housing complex might have negative effects on the historically black and low-income Northside area.

Councilman Jim Ward said that while he supports the proposed development, he worries about student housing affecting historical districts.